Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie and Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth.
Jackie Baillie has expressed her anger that the SNP and Greens have voted to proceed with the Workplace Parking Levy putting extra financial pressure on people during a cost of living crisis.
The decision was taken at the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee yesterday (Tuesday), which will see the “commuter tax” introduced.
The scheme will allow councils, including West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute, to force workers to cough up hundreds of pounds for parking spaces at their workplace.
When first debated, the SNP and the Greens voted down a series of proposed exemptions from Scottish Labour – meaning no key frontline workers other than NHS staff will be exempt.
MSP for Dumbarton constituency, Jackie Baillie said: “The SNP’s decision to hit workers with this levy while train and bus services are being cut is the wrong solution at the wrong time, and will raid the pockets of people already struggling with the cost of living crisis.
“The new transport minister [Jenny Gilruth SNP] can’t answer basic questions about what the scheme will mean for workers, leaving people at risk of extortionate charges to plug the cuts the SNP have inflicted on council budgets, including in West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute.
“We need to drop these misguided plans and take immediate action to improve access to safe, green and affordable public transport.
“This damaging Commuter Tax will undermine support for the climate action that we all need to see and leave those who can least afford it to bear the costs.”
Picture: The car park at Bonhill Primary School in West Dunbartonshire. Will teachers now have to pay to use it?